Russia beat Iraq in first home match since Ukraine invasion

David Raya believes his battle with Aaron Ramsdale to be first-choice goalkeeper at Arsenal has made them both better players.

Spain international Raya is currently Mikel Arteta’s preferred option between the sticks and he became the first goalkeeper this season to keep a Premier League clean sheet against Brighton as the Gunners won 2-0 on Sunday to go top of the table.

Second-half goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz secured the points for Arsenal, with Raya returning in goal after Ramsdale played in the 1-1 Champions League dead-rubber group game against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.

Got the job done. Onto the next one

— Kai Havertz (@kaihavertz29)

Since breaking into the side in September, Raya has unquestionably become Arteta’s numbe…

Robert Lewandowski harbours no ill will towards Poland s World Cup adversary Lionel Messi following the duo s battle to land the 2021 Ballon d Or.

Messi saw off fierce competition from Lewandowski to capture his seventh Ballon d Or last year, despite the Poland striker scoring 58 goals to Messi s 34 in club action in 2021.

In the aftermath of that triumph, Messi called for Lewandowski to be handed the 2020 Ballon d Or, with the prize not being awarded after the COVID-19 pandemic impacted football that year.

With Poland set to face Argentina in their third group-stage match at the World Cup later this month, Lewandowski says he does not resent Messi for claiming the prize.

Asked whether he would shake hands with Messi to clear the air ahead of the teams me…

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino defended his record at the club as their wait for a first trophy under his guidance continues.

Spurs were knocked out of the EFL Cup, the last trophy they won in 2008, in the semi-finals on Thursday, but they remain alive in the FA Cup and Champions League and are in the Premier League title race.

Pochettino said the constant questions had changed despite Spurs improvement since he took over in 2014.

I remember when we arrived here, [people asked], If we don t play for the Champions League or we don t achieve the Champions League, how are we going to keep our best players?’ he told UK newspapers.

Now the question is, If we don t win a title, how are we going to keep our best players?’

   We have a very bu…

Under-pressure Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper is not thinking about losing his job despite a 5-0 defeat at Fulham.

Alex Iwobi and Raul Jimenez bagged braces and Tom Cairney also scored to heap more misery on Cooper, who has seen his team lose their last four Premier League matches.

Cooper said: “It was a painful night and a scoreline we deserve.

“We didn’t show enough desire and will make up for it. We pulled out of tackles and lost races. If you show the lack of desire you run the risk of getting what we got tonight.

“I’m grateful (for the fan support). I have to take responsibility for it and it’s on me. I have to take ownership for that but it’s embarrassing and they don’t deserve it.

“Yeah, course I do (feel like the …

That pride is reciprocated by his father, who was emotional on co-commentary duties when Charlie came on against Young Boys.

A clip then went viral of the ex-Wales international expressing his joy after seeing his son had netted his first senior goal during his loan at Forest Green in the second half of last season.

It is a time Savage junior took a lot from, embracing life in Gloucestershire and building a bond with staff beyond the field in a season that ultimately ended in relegation from League One.

Savage says playing for a club built on sustainability has made him “more environmentally conscious” and has backed them to bounce straight back under Everton great Duncan Ferguson.

“He’s been fantastic with me,” Savage said of the Forest Green b…

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has time on his side at Manchester United.

Mauricio Pochettino s name looms large at Old Trafford but it seems the incumbent is going nowhere.

According to reports, Solskjaer will not be sacked regardless of whether United qualify for Europe this season.

TOP STORY – SOLSKJAER FREE FROM EUROPEAN ANXIETY

Failure to secure a top-six finish in the Premier League will not cost Solskjaer his job, reports the Daily Star.

United are struggling for consistency and appear destined to miss out on the Champions League places.

But while executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is long-time admirer of Pochettino, he will reportedly keep faith with Solskjaer even if middling results end in the Red Devils missing out on Europ…

Petr Cech s last match before retirement could be a Europa League final against former club Chelsea, an occasion he admits could be too much for him.

Goalkeeper Cech, 36, announced in January he planned to bring his distinguished career to a close at the end of the season.

His best years as a professional undoubtedly came at Chelsea, for whom he played from 2004 until 2015, winning 13 major trophies.

He left after losing his place to Thibaut Courtois, and while he is no longer first choice at Arsenal either, Cech has been used by Unai Emery en route to the Europa League semi-finals.

The Gunners face Valencia at Mestalla on Thursday 3-1 up from the first leg, while Chelsea contest the other semi at Stamford Bridge having drawn 1-1 away to Eintracht Frankfu…

Young is close to ending an eight-and-a-half-year association with United after Inter agreed a €1.5million (£1.3million) fee, subject to personal terms being agreed.

Solskjaer claimed United were not willing to match a two-year contract on the table for the 34-year-old at San Siro and also cited the emergence of youngsters such as Brandon Williams as a reason for both parties to go their separate ways.

To be fair, I think for Ashley, he s 35 in the summer and if he gets a two-year contract somewhere it s up to hm to take that, Solskjaer said.

We weren t ready to offer that. He s been a good servant for the club, he s been captain and won trophies.

But we ve got players coming through. When Ashley s mindset and head was on I want to try this , then w…

Lionel Messi believes he was fortunate to score two tremendous free-kicks during Barcelona s win over Espanyol in LaLiga on Saturday.

Just days after being criticised by Brazil great Pele, Messi produced a fine display, scoring twice and setting up another in Barca s 4-0 win.

His two goals were wonderful free-kicks, but the 31-year-old said he needed some luck.

I try to follow a routine a bit, trying to do it the same way so that it goes well again, Messi told Vamos.

Other times I have a lot of free-kicks and I do not put them in. I was lucky enough to get two in a row.

 And it s all over. A perfect performance
 RCD Espanyol 0-4 FC Barcelona
 Leo Messi (x2), Dembélé Suárez  

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)

Ousmane De…

Market: Both teams to score

Odds: 4/6 @

In an all-Championship FA Cup showdown on Sunday Watford will welcome Southampton to Vicarage Road for what could be a lively affair.

Starting with the hosts, while some in Watford’s camp might still have their sights set on pinching a Championship play-off ticket this season, the Hornets are seeking some recent stability. Although Valerien Ismael’s side might have extended on their FA Cup adventure earlier in the month as they secured a comeback 2-1 victory against National League outfit Chesterfield, the one-time West Brom boss has seen his squad win just a pair of their previous six appearances across all competitions. Last seen having to settle for a 1-1 stalemate away at Bristol City, Watford will also be concerne…